Combination bed and contour chair



Feb. 8, 1955 R. COOPERSMITH COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR I FiledJuly 21, 1952 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l fmm PA [wPmM/r:

firm/wa e Feb. 8, 1955 R. COOPERSMITH 2,701,603

COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR 7 Filed July 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2rro P/vE ys Feb. 8, 1955' R. COOPERSMITH 2,701,603

COMBINATION BED AND CONTOUR CHAIR Filed July 21. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.ZW M WWZ m United States Patent COMBINATIGN BED AND CONTOUR CHAIRRudolph Coopersmith, Clayton, Mo.

Application July 21, 1952, Serial No. 300,021

15 Claims. (Cl. 15545) This invention relates to folding furniture andis more particularly directed to a frame for furniture that may befolded to form a bed, a contour chair or compactly folded for storage ina comparatively small space.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame foran article of furniture that may be used as a bed or a contour chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame forfurniture that is adjustable to various positions for use as a contourchair or as a bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable furnitureframe usable as a contour chair or a bed and which may also be compactlyfolded for storing in a comparatively small space.

The invention consists in the provision of a multi-section frame pivotedtogether in an end to end relationship having braces thereon thatstiffen one end of the frame when unfolded to form a bed, the bracesbecoming arms when the frame is folded to form a chair.

The invention further consists in the provision of a bracing for a partof the bed frame When it is folded into its several positions as achair.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a foldable frame embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame folded to one position asa contour chair,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the frame folded to anotherposition as a contour chair,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the frame folded for storagepurposes,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bed frame in a modified form of theinvention,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7,

P Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 Fig. 11 is asectional view taken along the line 11l1 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the frame folded into one positionas a contour chair,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the frame folded into anotherposition as a contour chair,

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the frame folded for storage; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of a structural detail of the bed frame.

The article of furniture is embodied in the structure shown in severalviews of the drawings. Fig. 2, which discloses the side elevation of thearticle of furniture, comprises a head section 1, a seat section 2, abracing section 3 and a foot section 4. The head section is pivoted tothe seat section by means of pins 5 and the seat section is pivoted tothe bracing section by means of pins 6 and the bracing section ispivoted to the foot section by means of pins 7. The various sectionsare, therefore. serially connected and each is pivoted relative to theother for folding the article of furniture into a mattress supportingframe or for a contour chair as will be subsequently described. Thearticle of furniture is supported on a base structure 8 provided with aplurality of casters 9 and comprises a pair of side bars 10 on "ice 5base at each of the corners at one end thereof and a corner brace 13 isconnected between the side bars 10 and the vertical bars 12 by asuitable fastening means. The other end of the base has bars 14 thereonin which one end thereof is pivoted to the other end of the basestructure and the opposite ends are pivoted to extensions 15 of the barsof the bracing section by means of pins.

16. A reinforcing bar 17 is connected between the bars 12 thus producinga more rigid structure at that point of the furniture framework.

The head section 1 has a support 18 pivoted thereto on the flanges 18secured to the side bars of the head section. The support 18 ispreferably of a U-shape as shown in views for the modified form of thefurniture frame and a bar 19 is connected between the corner brace 13and the support 18. This bar is also employed on the opposite side ofthe support 18. Bars 20, part of a U- shaped member, are pivoted toopposite sides of the support 18 and are provided with a plurality ofnotches 21 engageable with pins 22 secured in the side members of thehead section 1. The bars constitute a brace for the head section when itis unfolded to a mattress receiving position and when the head sectionis folded to form the back of a contour chair, the bars 20 constitutethe arms for the chair.

The seat section 2 has a post 22 secured to each of the side barsthereof that is stiffened by a corner brace 23 connected between thepost and the side member of the seat section. The posts are connected bya bar 22" for making a rigid U-shaped frame. This post is engageablewith the side bars 10 of the brace when the frame is folded to one formof a contour chair position, as shown in Fig. 4, and stiffens the seatsection for service as a chair.

The foot section 4 is provided with a pair of supports 24 and 25 pivotedto a flange 26 secured to the side bars of the foot section. Thesupports 24 and 25 are preferably of U-shape as is the support 18 forthe head section. A bar 27 is connected between each of the supports 24and each of the bars 14, there being a pivotal connection between thebar 27, the bar 14 and the support 24. The right hand end of the bar 27,as viewed in Fig. 2, has an upturned portion 28 that is engageable withthe side bars of the bracing section 3. This upturned portion 28 engagesthe side bars and prevents relative motion of the bracing section andseat section when the frame has been folded into a contour chairformation. The support 25 is connected to a downturned portion 29 of thebars 10 of the base 8 by means of bars 30 thus completing the assemblyof the contour chair. The downturned portion places the point ofpivoting below the plane of the bars 10 for better performance of thefolding operation. The various pivotal connections between the severalbars or sections permits the parts to move relative to each other whenthe frame is adjusted from a mattress support structure to that of acontour chair.

Assuming that the frame is in the unfolded condition such as shown inFig. 2 for supporting a mattress and is to be formed to a contour chairas shown in Fig. 3, the operator will release the bars 20 and thenotches 21 from the pins 22 and then tilt the head section 1 upwardlyabout the pin connecting it with the vertical bars 12. This action willdrop the seat section to the position shown in Fig. 3 for one adjustmentof the chair. Simultaneously the bar 14 will pivot about its lower endto place the foot section 4 in an angular relationship with respect tothe bracing section 3 so that the upturned end 28 of the bar 27 willengage the side bars thereof, thus tending to stiffen the seat sectionof the chair. The support 25 will pivot upwardly so that support 24 willhold the foot section 4 in desired position. When the bars 20 areadjusted to the Fig. 4 position, then the bracing section 3 and seatsection 2 will conform to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the posts 22in engagement with the bars 10 of the base structure 8. In this mannerthe same frame structure can be used for two or any number of differentcontour chair positions as well as for a mattress supporting frame as isillustrated in Fig. 2.

For storage purposes the foot section 4 is placed in a positionsubstantially parallel to the head section and the bars are then broughtinto engagement with pins on the foot section with suitable notches 21in the bars such as illustrated in Fig. 5. The bar member 20 whichconstituted a stiffener for the head section when the frame is employedas a bed structure now becomes a locking member for the furniture framewhen it is folded to storage position. The downturned portion 29 of thebase bar it) is provided to lower the pivotal point below the plane ofbar 10 so that when the frame has been unfolded to a mattress supportingposition it will cause the support to assume substantially verticalposition. If this downturned portion were not provided then the support25 would not assume the correct position with respect to the footsection 4.

A modified form of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 6 through 14 inwhich the mattress supporting frame comprises a head section 31, a seatsection 32, a bracing section 33 and a foot section 34. The head section31 is made up from a one piece right angular bar 35 bent into the formof a U so as to form the two sides and end piece of the section. Theseat section 32 is made up of two side pieces 36, one end of each beingpivoted to the side sections of the head member 31 by means of pins 37and the other end of the seat section bars being connected to one of theside bars 38 of the bracing section 33 by means of pins 39. The footsection 34 is constructed similarly to the head section from a one pieceor continuous bar 40 Whose free ends are pivotally connected to theother end of the bars 38 of the bracing section by means of pins 41. Abar 43 is located at the ends of bars 38 for producing a more rigidbracing section construction. The bar 43 also stiifens bracing section33 while bars 44 and 45 stiffen the seat section 32 and head section 31respectively. A wire fabric 46 is supported from the side and end barsof the several sections by means of springs 47 and constitutes themattress support.

The article of furniture is provided with a base structure 48 comprisinga pair of bars 49 whose ends support casters 50 there being two bars onthe base section and suitable transverse bars are provided forincreasing the mechanical strength thereof. A support 51 is pivoted tothe head section 31 on flanges 52 and a bar 53 is pivotally connected tothe support and to the free end of corner brace 54 for the vertical bar55 connected between one end of the bars 49 and the seat section 32 ofthe mattress frame. The U bar 56 is pivoted to the support 51 and isprovided with a plurality of notches 57 engageable with pins 53 set inthe side bars of the head section 31.

The seat section 32 has each side piece 36 thereof provided with a post59 reinforced by a corner brace 60 connected to the side pieces 36 ofthe seat section. The post 59 is engageable with the bars 49 of the basewhen the frame is folded into the form of contour chair shown in Fig.13.

A bar 61 has its one end pivoted to one end of the bars 49 and the otherend is pivoted to an extension 62 of the side bars 38 of the bracingsection. The bar 43 and suitable corner braces (Fig. 9) are connectedbetween bars 61 for stiifening the latter. The foot section 34 isequipped with a support 63 made up in the form of a U and each eg of theU is connected to the bar 44; by means of a pin 64. The bar 61 has aratchet lever 65 pivoted thereto and engageable with suitable ratchetnotches 66 cut into the bars 49 of the base 43. A bar 67 has its one endpivotally connected to support 63 at each side thereof and its other endis connected to bar 6.! by means of a pin and slot 68, this structureappearing on both sides of the frame. A bar 45 is connected between bars55, and corner braces 70 are positioned thereon so that a rigid supportis provided for the head section 31.

It is assumed that the article of furniture is in the unfolded positionshown in Figs. 6 and 7 and it is desired to fold the same into a contourchair. This is done by releasing the bar 56 and the notches 57 thereinfrom the pin 58 and tilting the head section 31 upwardly about the upperend of the bars 55. Simultaneously the seat section 32 will be loweredand the foot section 34 will be tilted about the end of the bars 61.This action will cause the ratchet levers 65 to engage different notchesin the bars 49 to move them to the position shown in Fig. 12. Furtherupward tilting of the head section 31 will cause the ratchet lever 65 toassume the position shown in Fig. 13 and the bars 56 then becoming thearms for the contour chair. Under certain conditions of operation theoperator will have to release the ratchet lever 65 from its notch whenthe frame is being folded from the Fig. 12 to the Fig. 13 position.Posts 59 in Fig. 13 rest on bars 49 thus stiffening the seat section.

The furniture frame can be folded into storage position such as shown inFig. 14 by manually releasing the ratchet lever 65 from its notch, thenplacing the foot section vertically parallel with the head section andengaging the bar 56 with a pin in each of the bars in the foot section34. Thus, the bars 56 assume another function, namely that of a lockingmember in the Fig. 14 position, arms for the contour chair in the Figs.12 and 13 position and braces for the head section in the Fig. 6position. A supplemental. lever 65 (Fig. 15) pivoted to ratchet lever 65may be employed for keeping the lever out of engagement with notches 66.

The applicant has thus provided a foldable frame for furniture that canbe adjusted to two or more positions as a contour chair depending uponthe number of notches that are cut in the bars 56, provided thatcorresponding notches 66 are provided for positioning the ratchet lever65 therein. It is apparent that the ratchet lever 65 must rest in adifferent notch for each position of the bar 56. The frame can bequickly unfolded for converting it into a bed structure, and by foldingit to the Fig. 14 position can be conveniently stored during periods ofnon-use.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section,a bracing section and a foot section pivoted together in end to endrelationship; a base structure for said sections; means for supportingthe free end of the head section; means for bracing the head section tosaid base structure means; means for supporting the free end of saidfoot section; and means connected with said last mentioned supportingmeans and extending into abutment with said bracing section forstiffening said bracing section when the frame is folded into a contourchair.

2. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section,a bracing section and a foot section pivoted together in end to endrelationship; a base structure for said sections; means for supportingthe free end of the head section; means for bracing the head section tosaid base structure means; means for supporting the free end of saidfoot section; means connected with said last mentioned supporting meansand extending into abutment with said bracing section for stiffeningsaid bracing section when the frame is folded into a contour chair; andmeans on said seat section for stiffening same when said frame is foldedinto a different form of contour c an.

3. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure; a headsection pivotally supported to one side of said base structure; a seatsection having one end thereof pivoted to said head section; a bracingsection pivoted to the other end of said seat section and pivotallysupported on the other end of said base structure; a foot sectionpivotally secured to the other end of said base structure and to saidbracing section; means pivoted to said base structure and to said headsection for supporting same; means attachable to said head section andsupporting means for stitfening the supporting means; means pivoted tosaid foot section and to said base structure for supporting the footsection; means pivoted to said foot support and said base for stiffeningthe bracing section; and means on said seat section engageable with thebase for stiffening the section. 4. A foldable furniture framecomprising a base structure having rigid uprights at one end thereof andpivoted members on the other end thereof; a head section pivoted to therigid uprights; a seat section, one end thereof being pivoted to saidhead section; a bracing section pivoted to the other end of said seatsection and to the upper end of said pivoted members; legs pivoted tosaid head section for supporting same; an arm pivoted to said legs andto said head section to adjust the chair forming position of said seatand head sections; legs pivoted to said foot section for supportingsame; means connected between said foot section supporting legs and saidpivoted members and said base for stiffening same; and means on saidseat section engageable with said base structure for stiffening saidseat section.

5. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure; a headsection pivotally supported to one side of said base structure; a seatsection having one end thereof pivoted to said head section; a bracingsection pivoted to the other end of said seat section and pivotallysupported on the other end of said base structure; a foot sectionpivotally secured to the other end of said base structure and to saidbracing section; means pivoted to said base structure and to said headsection for supporting same; means attachable to said head section andsupporting means for stiffening the supporting means; means pivoted tosaid foot section and to said base structure for supporting the footsection; and means pivoted to said foot support and said base forstiffening the bracmg section.

6. A foldable furniture frame comprising a base structure having rigiduprights at one end thereof and pivoted members on the other endthereof; a head section pivoted to the rigid uprights; a seat section,one end thereof being pivoted to said head section; a bracing sectionpivoted to the other end of said seat section and to the upper end ofsaid pivoted members; legs plvoted to sa d head section for supportingsame; an arm pivoted to said legs and to said head section to adjust thechair forming position of said seat and head sections; legs pivoted tosaid foot section for supporting same; and means connected between saidfoot section supporting legs and said pivoted members on said base forstiffening same.

7. A folding furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section,a bracing section and a foot section, each of said sections pivotedtogether in end to end relation; a base structure; means for swingablysupporting said bracing and head sections on said base structure; asupport for said head section; means connected between said head supportand said head section for supporting the head section in any one of anumber of adjusted positions as a chair; means connected between saidbase structure and the head support for holding the latter in position;a first support for the foot section; a second support for the footsection; means connected between said base structure and the firstsupport; and means connected between the second support and the firstmentioned means, and hav ng a portion thereon engageable with thebracing section when frame is folded as a chair wherein the firstsupport holds the foot section when the frame is unfolded as a bed andthe second support holds the foot section when the frame is folded as achair.

8. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section,a bracing section and a foot section; means for pivotally connectingsaid sections serially; a base structure; bar members connected betweensaid base and one end of said bracing section; second bar membersconnected between said base and said head section; a support for saidhead section; means for adjusting and holding the head section in anyone of a number of positions; a first support for said foot section; asecond support for said foot section; means connected between said basestructure and said first support; and means connected between each ofsaid bar members and said second support and including means engageablewith said bracing section, the first support holding the foot sectionwhen the frame is unfolded and the second support holding the footsection when the frame is folded as a chair.

9. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seat section,a bracing section and a foot section; a portable base structureincluding longitudinal bars at each side thereof, one end of each of thebars turning downwardly; a set of bars pivoted to one end of said basestructure; a second set of bars secured to the other end of said basestructure; a brace for said second set of bars; a support for the headsection; adjustable locking bars connected between said support and saidhead section for holding the latter in any desired position'ofadjustment; a bar connected between each of said braces and saidsupport; a first support for said foot section; a second support forsaid foot sections; means connected between the downturned end of saidbase bars and said first support; and bars connected between said secondsupport and said pivoted base bar and including an upturned endengageable with said bracing section, the -second support operable whenthe frame is folded as a chair, and wherein the upturned ends of the barconnected thereto engage said bracing section for stiffening same.

10. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot section; a base structure providedwith side bars, one end of each side bar being bent downwardly; a barpivoted to each side of said base near the downturned end portion of thebase side bars and the other end pivoted to said bracing section; a barhaving one end rigidly secured to the other end of each of said baseside bars, the other end of each bar pivotally connected to said headsection; a support for said head section; a bar pivotally connectedbetween each rigid bar and said support; an adjustable bar connectedbetween said support and said head section for holding the head sectionin a desired angle with respect to the horizontal; a pair of supportsfor said foot section; bars connecting one support with the downturnedportion of base side bars; bars connecting the other foot sectionsupport with said bars pivoted to each side of the base and each havingone end engageable with the bracing section; means on said seat sectionengageable with said bar for stiffening the seat section in certainpositions of adjustment; and means on said foot section engageable withthe head section adjusting bars for locking the frame in foldedcondition.

11. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot section serially connected; a basestructure; a bar having one end thereof pivotally connected near thecorner at one end of said base structure, and the other end thereofpivoted to one end of said bracing section; a second substantiallyvertical bar having one end rigidly secured to the opposite end of saidbase and the other end thereof pivoted to said head section; a supportfor said head section; a bar connected between each of saidsubstantially vertical bars and said head section support; ad ustablebars pivoted to said head section support and engageable with said headsection for holding same in any selected position of adjustment; supportmeans for said foot section; bars connecting said support means and saidpivoted bars on said base; means on said seat section engageable withsaid base for stiffening said seat section when the frame is folded inone position for a chair; and means on said foot sect on engageable withthe bars pivoted to said head section support for holding the frame infolded condition.

1 2. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head sect on, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot section serially pivotallyconnected; a base structure provlded with longitudinal side bars; asubstantially vertical bar having one end thereof rigidly secured toeach corner of one end of said base structure, the other end of saldrigid bars pivotally connected to said head section; a support for saidhead section; a bar connected between each vertical bar and saidsupport; a bar pivotally connected to said support and engageable withsaid head section for holding same in adjusted position; a bar havingone end pivotally connected to each corner on the opposite end of thebase structure, the other end thereof pivoted to said bracing section; asupport for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted baron said base and said foot section support; means on said seat sectionfor stiffening same when in engagement with said base; and a ratchet barpivoted to said pivoted bars on said base structure and engageable withratchet teeth in said base bars for aiding in holding said foot sectionin selected position of adjustment.

13. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot section, connected in an end toend relation; a base structure having longitudinally extended bars atits side provided with ratchet notches; a substantially vertical barpivotally connected to one end of said base structure bars; a barpivotally connected to the other end of said base structure bars; asupport for said head section; a bar having one end connected betweensaid vertical bars and said support; a bar pivoted to each side of saidsupport and engageable with said head section; a support for said footsection; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base structureand said support; a

lever pivoted to each of said pivoted bars on said base and selectivelyengageable with said ratchet notches; means on said seat sectionengageable with said base for stiffening said seat section when theframe is folded for a chair frame; and means on said footsectionengagcable with said head section adjusting bars for locking the framein its folded condition.

14. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot section serially pivotallyconnected; a base structure provided with longitudinal side bars; asubstantially vertical bar having one end thereof rigidly secured toeach corner of one end of said base structure, the other end of saidrigid bars pivotally connected to said head section; a support for saidhead section; a bar connected between each vertical bar and saidsupport; a bar pivotally connected to said support and engageable withsaid head section for holding same in adjusted position; a bar havingone end pivotally connected to each corner on the opposite end of thebase structure, the other end thereof pivoted to said bracing section; asupport for said foot section; a bar connected between each pivoted baron said base and said foot section support; and means on said scatsection for stiffening same when in engagement: with said base.

15. A foldable furniture frame comprising a head section, a seatsection, a bracing section and a foot sectiQn, connected in an end toend relation; a base structure having longitudinally extended bars atits side provided with ratchet notches; a substantially vertical barpivotally connected to one end of said base structure bars; a barpivotally connected to the other end of said base structure bars; asupport for said head section; a bar having one end connected betweensaid vertical bars and said support; a bar pivoted to each side of saidsupport and engageable with said head section; a support for said footsection; a bar connected between each pivoted bar on said base structureand said support; a lever pivoted to each of said pivoted bars on saidbase and selectively engagcable with said ratchet notches; and means onsaid foot section engageable with said head section adjusting bars forlocking the frame in its folded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

